Neuroprotective Properties of a Standardized Extract fromMyracrodruon urundeuvaFr. All. (Aroeira-Do-Sertão), as Evaluated by a Parkinson’s Disease Model in Rats

Abstract

Myracrodruon urundeuva Fr. All. (Anacardiaceae) is a Brazilian medicinal species, which is common to the Northeastern Brazilian semiarid region, whose stem-bark is widely used in folk medicine. It is an endangered species, presenting as main bioactive components tannins and chalcones. In this work, we studied the neuroprotective effects of a standardized extract from cultivated M. urundeuva (SEMU), in a model of Parkinson's disease. Thus, a unilateral injection of 6-OHDA was done into the rat right stratum. The animals were submitted to stereotaxic surgery, then treated with SEMU (5, 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg, p.o.) for 2 weeks, subjected to behavioral tests, and euthanized for striata dissections and neurochemical, histological, and immunohistochemical analyses. We showed, for the first time, that SEMU reverted behavioral alterations seen in the 6-OHDA-lesioned group and partially blocked the decrease in DA and DOPAC contents. The numbers of viable neurons and TH immunopositive cells were increased by SEMU. In addition, the SEMU-treated 6-OHDA groups showed lower numbers of GFAP and OX-42 immunopositive cells. The neuroprotective action of SEMU is possibly related to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of M. urundeuva, pointing out to its potential use in the prevention or treatment of neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson's disease.

Gastroprotective and anti-inflammatory activities integrated to chemical composition of Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão - A conservationist proposal for the species

“…The average height of the shoot sampled was 40-50 cm (Calou et al, 2014;Bandeira, 2002). Before drying, the stems was manually separated from the leaves.…”

Supplementation with Herbal Extracts to Promote Behavioral and Neuroprotective Effects in Experimental Models of Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review

“…They have been extensively investigated in the medical sciences because of their great potential for health promotion as well as for the prevention of natural diseases. In addition, reports have shown that these herbal products and bioactive compounds are able to reduce the oxidative damage induced by free radicals and oxygen reactive species under oxidative stress (Gupta and Sharma, , Calou et al , , Izzo et al , ).…”

“…Some studies have shown promising neuroprotective properties attributed to plants such as Amburana Cearenses (Amburoside A) (Calou et al , ), Camellia sinenses (catechins and polyphenols) (Guo et al , ), Gynostemma pentaphyllum (saponin extract) (Choi et al , 2010), Pueraria lobata (Puerarin) (Zhu et al , ), Alpinia oxyphylla (protocatechuic acid) (Zhang et al , ), Cistanches salsa (glycosides or phenylethanoid) (Chen et al , ; Zhao and Pux, ), Spirulina platensis (olysacharide) (Zhang et al , ), and Astragalosídeo membranáceus (saponin triterpenoid tetracílcioco) (Chan et al , ). In fact, the latter was able to reduce the loss of dopaminergic neurons in a PD model induced by 6‐OHDA, where the treated group showed intact germination, an increased number of neurites and higher levels of TH and nitric oxide synthase‐immunoreactive nerves (Chan et al , ).…”

Extracts and Essential Oils from Medicinal Plants and Their Neuroprotective Effect

“…Other studies have shown plants with neuroprotective properties capable of protecting from PD damage. These include plants such as Amburana Cearenses (Amburoside A) [5], Myracrodruon urundeuva (tannins and chalcones) [45], Camellia sinensis (catechins and polyphenols) [46], Gynostemma pentaphyllum (saponin extract) [47], Pueraria lobata (Puerarin) [48], Alpinia oxyphylla (protocatecholic citric acid) [49], parsley Cistanches salsa (phenylethane glycosides) [50,51], Spirulina platensis (polysaccharide) [22] and Astragalus membranaceus (triterpenoid saponin), as mentioned in a review study [9,39].…”